What Are Sinus Infections
Medically called sinusitis , sinus infections occur when either viruses or certain forms of bacteria multiply within the bodys sinus cavitiesthey can also happen as a result of inflammation. Sinuses are actually hollow areas within the bones which surround the nose and are generally empty in healthy individuals. With sinusitis, they may become filled with mucus, which can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
While sinus infections affect roughly 12% of American adults each year, episodes of sinusitis that are bacterial are rare and account for approximately 2% of cases. If bacterial sinusitis is suspected, antibiotics may be prescribed as treatmenttypically only if the patient has been sick for 10 or more days. If the infection is no better after 10-14 days of symptomatic management, a bacterial sinusitis is more likely, and management with antibiotics will be considered.
Carenow Can Help Treat Sinus Infection Symptoms
For temporary relief, apply a warm moist washcloth on your face several times a day. This should help relieve the pressure in your head. A doctor may prescribe a nasal spray to reduce the inflammation inside your nasal passages. If your doctor prescribes medication, its important to take it as prescribed and to follow the proper dosage instructions.
Acute sinusitis can take up to 4 weeks to treat, while chronic sinusitis is more difficult and therefore typically takes longer to treat. While acute sinusitis is typically treated with an antibiotic, chronic sinusitis may require multiple antibiotics, including a corticosteroid nasal spray that can reduce inflammation.
If you find yourself suffering from sinus infection symptoms, consider visiting your local CareNow. Be sure to check in online to avoid the waiting room!
Disclaimer: Patients health can vary. Always consult with a medical professional before taking medication, making health-related decisions or deciding if medical advice is right for you.
At Rapid Med Urgent Care Center We Can Help
Fortunately, if you are suffering from any of these symptoms, or are attempting to determine whether you are dealing with a sinus infection you can contact or visit us at Rapid Med Urgent Care Center. Our professionals will be focused on doing everything possible to reduce your discomfort, and help your situation improve.
This also applies to any other concerns or health issues that you may encounter during these winter months.
At Rapid Med Urgent Care Center, not only do we deliver immediate medical attention for conditions that are not critical or life-threatening, but we also provide both primary and preventive care.
Our Primary Care
Our intuitive approach and commitment to patients enable them to receive the specific type of care that they prefer, when and how they want it. This include:
- After Hours Care Available
Regardless of whether you are in need of primary care, preventative care or urgent care, you can receive the same great care and consideration that you receive by visiting our offices simply by using our On Demand service through your phone, tablet, or computer.
Regardless of how you contact us, we can also assist you, or answer any questions regarding any of these other medical problems.
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Do I Have A Sinus Infection
A sinus infection occurs when the tissue lining the sinuses becomes inflamed. There are two main types of sinus infectionsacute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis.
Acute sinusitis usually lasts less than a month, while chronic sinusitis can last for more than 12 weeks.
In addition, recurring sinus infections can also be attributed to chronic sinusitis, too. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention if your symptoms last longer than a week or two.
Cold Vs Sinus Infection
One of the most frequent complaints that patients have during the winter months is the common cold. Runny nose, stuffy head, headache, coughing, and fatigue seem to plague everyone at some point between September and April. But how do you know if your cold is more than a cold? And when should you seek treatment for those cold symptoms?
Well break it down for you and share the symptoms and common treatments, as well as let you know when you should go to your local walk-in or urgent care clinic. Keep this handy guide close by to help you navigate the cold season.
The Common Cold
Referred to as rhinitis in the medical world, the common cold is something just about everyone deals with at some point. Colds are viral, meaning treatments like antibiotics will not work. So what do you do if you have a cold? Treat the symptoms.
These are the most common symptoms of a cold:
- Cough
- Fatigue
Treating a Cold
When you have a cold, you need to treat the symptoms and take steps to make yourself more comfortable. Most doctors recommend overt-the-counter medications:
Some healthcare providers recommend using a nasal irrigation system like a neti pot or saline rinse. This can be effective at helping your body rid itself of the excess mucus that comes along with colds.
When you have a cold, you should also increase your fluid intake and get plenty of rest. Warm, clear fluids can help thin mucus secretions and be soothing for sore throats and head congestion.
Sinus Infections
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When To Seek Help For A Sinus Infection
Most adults and some children have had at at least one encounter with a sinus infection. As a result, you probably know how annoying and sometimes painful sinus infections, or sinusitis, can be.
With winter approaching, sinus infections become more prevalent and may impact your day-to-day life. It is important to know when and how to treat them if you experience sinus discomfort.
Sinusitis symptomsSinus infectors occur when then the space around your nasal passages, or sinuses, is swollen, according to the Mayo Clinic. As a result, sinus drainage slows down, causing mucus to develop. This buildup is what prompts irritation and stuffy noses.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, there are two types of sinus infections: acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis. Acute sinusitis has a duration of up to four weeks, while the chronic form of sinusitis lasts more than 12 weeks and sometimes lasts for multiple months or years.
For the more common acute sinusitis, the symptoms include congestion, cough, yellow or green-colored discharge from the nose or throat, tenderness and pressure around the eyes and a decreased sense of smell and taste, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Additional symptoms can include fever, headache, tiredness and pain in the upper jaw, ear and teeth.
When to see a doctor Unfortunately, antibiotics can only be prescribed for bacterial sinus infections. Therefore, you commonly have to wait before seeking treatment for sinus infections.
How To Relieve Sinus Pressure
The key to sinus infection treatment is to keep your sinus cavities moist. The following steps should help:
If symptoms persist for longer than a few weeks, you may be suffering from chronic sinusitis. Visit your local FastMed for an evaluation and treatment. You may need antibiotics for a bacterial sinus infection, another prescription remedy, or referral to a specialist to effectively treat a chronic sinus condition.
* The content presented on this page is not intended to diagnose health problems or take the place of professional medical care.
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What Can I Take For A Sinus Infection
Most sinus infection medicines are meant to treat symptoms. Mentholated medications may help open nasal passages, and expectorants can thin and help drain the mucous. Ibuprofen or naproxen should help to relieve pain and swelling. Acetaminophen will relieve pain, but will not reduce inflammation.
Other sinus infection remedies include saline sprays and irrigation methods, such as a neti pot. Your FastMed sinusitis team can help you determine the best solution for your particular type of sinus disease.
Sinus Infection Treatment In Miami
A headache, nasal congestion, and pain between the eyes are all signs that you may have a sinus infection.
When sinus pain is slowing you down, visit a nearby UHealth Jackson Urgent Care center for some relief. You can walk in without an appointment and be seen quickly by an urgent care doctor.
How Our Urgent Care Can Help
Our doctors and providers at UHealth Jackson Urgent Care will check to see if you have a sinus infection, cold, or other illness that could be causing the pain. We can perform any necessary tests in our on-site lab and have results during your visit.
Once we know whats causing your sinus pain, we can help treat it. Some infections require antibiotics, while others may need time to run their course. Either way, we can suggest over-the-counter pain medications, nasal decongestants, and nasal saline rinses that can help make you more comfortable.
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What Our Patients Are Saying
“The overall care I received was excellent! I also appreciate your affiliation with Yale New Haven Hospital.”
“Throughout the visit I felt like the staff really cared. The Doctor took his time talking with me about my symptoms, and I felt like he listened to all my concerns and took that into consideration when recommending the right treatment. Thank you!”
“I had to take my son in for an ear infection following a sudden change in temperament at daycare. He was inconsolable the entire car ride but when we got there and by the time we left this care facility he was back to his normal happy go lucky little two year old boy. I highly recommend PhysicianOne Urgent Care.”
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the attention you gave me last week. My son was started on antibiotics and ear drops. Within 24 hours he began to feel better. The poor kid had been going to school in tears because he was afraid of missing any more days, but feeling just awful! He’s not been able to even think about lacrosse practice, but thanks to starting him on antibiotics, he was thrilled to return to practice today.”
Do You Need A Sinus Infection Remedy
When you visit PhysicianOne Urgent Care, youll be promptly seen by an experienced provider who can determine if you have a sinus infection that requires treatment. Along with a physical examination, this will involve a thorough assessment of your symptoms. In addition to common cold symptoms, a hallmark sign of sinusitis is facial pain or pressure, which usually doesnt occur with a cold alone. Also, if your cold symptoms seemed to improve at first but then abruptly worsened, be sure to explain that to your provider. This pattern suggests that you may have had a cold that progressed into a sinus infection.
Sinusitis treatment may include:
- A prescription antibiotic medication
- An over-the-counter nasal decongestant
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Sinus Infection Vs Covid
So, youre feeling under the weather. Is it a run-of-the-mill sinus infection, or could it be something worse? Its very common for people to question whats causing their symptoms, and even more so since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. At PhysicianOne Urgent Care, we understand our patients concerns, and with that in mind, weve put together some tips on how to tell the difference between a sinus infection and COVID-19.
Should I Go To Urgent Care For A Sinus Infection
by Velocity Urgent Care | Jan 16, 2020 | Blog
Should I Go to Urgent Care for a Sinus Infection?
Everyone has had a sinus infection at some point. They come with plenty of facial pain, nasal drainage, headaches. However, most people dont know what they should do when they come down with one. Should I go to urgent care? Should I tough it out at home? Do I need to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist?
Answering those questions isnt as difficult as it sounds. In fact, you can almost surely cross seeing a specialist off your list. Though it might not feel like it at the time, a sinus infection is a fairly common illness that affects tens of millions of adults each year. With that being said, some sinus infections can be treated effectively at home while others might need to be treated by a professional.
How to Tell if You Have a Sinus Infection
Inside your skull, there are several pockets of air. These are called your sinuses and help with a variety of things in daily life. For example, they keep your head from being too heavy. However, they are also prone to infection when fluid backs up into them and allows germs to take over. This leads to sinuses that are clogged by thick mucus that causes the various symptoms of a sinus infection.
How to Treat a Sinus Infection at Home
When to Seek Medical Care for a Sinus Infection
Not everyone who has a sinus infection will need to seek medical care. However, there are some times when home remedies simply arent enough.
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What Happens During A Sinus Infection
The sinuses are just air-filled spaces in your skull. Scientists arent completely sure why they exist, but they do lighten the skull, allow the voice to reverberate, and produce mucus that lubricates the inside of the nose.
Your sinuses connect to your nose by small drainage openings called ostia. Ostia are how air flows through the nose into the sinuses.
Though your sinuses are usually filled with air, they can become blocked and fill with fluid and mucus. When the fluid and mucus stick around long enough, bacteria can begin to flourish.
Now, this normally air-filled cavity becomes a fluid-filled pocket of infection.
If you experience persistent nasal allergies, for example, the frequent inflammation may lead to blocked passages and stopped up sinuses the perfect environment for a sinus infection.
Seasonal Allergies Versus Sinus Infection
The symptoms of allergies and a sinus infection are quite similar, leaving many to wonder which they’re suffering from. How long the symptoms last is a big differentiator between the two, but there are also a few other ways to determine the source behind your symptoms. Below are a few ways to tell if you have a sinus infection or seasonal allergies and what you can do to feel better.
Symptoms of seasonal allergies typically include:
- Sneezing
- A decrease in your sense of smell
Allergy symptoms will usually last as long as you are exposed to the allergen. If you are suffering from a sinus infection, it’s a good idea to see a doctor who can prescribe a simple course of antibiotics to help clear up the infection. In some cases, an acute infection can turn into chronic sinusitis if left untreated. Using a mixture of distilled water and salt, a neti pot can also help to thin mucus and flush out sinuses.
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What Is A Sinus Infection
A sinus infection or rhinosinusitis can occur when your nasal cavities become infected, swollen, and inflamed after fluid becomes trapped in the sinuses, allowing germs to grow. Sinusitis most commonly occurs after you’ve had a cold or a flare up of allergy symptoms and often persists even after other upper respiratory symptoms are gone.
How To Treat The Common Cold
Since colds are triggered by viruses, theres really no way to treat them. Antibiotics will not work. The best medicine is lots of rest and plenty of fluids, say experts. You can use over-the-counter products to take the edge off your symptoms. Pain relievers, fever reducers, antihistimines, decongestants, and cough suppressants can all make you feel better. Not only that, but they will help quell your misery so that your body can get the rest it needs.
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Acute Sinusitis Versus Chronic Sinusitis
When dealing with a sinus infection, its important to know if youre suffering from an acute sinus infection or a chronic one.
- Acute Sinus Infection Symptoms
Acute sinusitis is described as an abrupt development of cold-like symptoms and facial pain that persists for up to 4 weeks. Sub-acute sinusitis is the same, except that the inflammation can last up to 8 weeks.
The primary symptoms are facial pain and pressure, thick nasal discharge, congestion, cough and loss of smell and/or taste. Secondary symptoms can include fever, fatigue, toothaches and bad breath.
You may be diagnosed with acute sinusitis if you have at least two of these sinus infection symptoms.
- Chronic Sinus Infection Symptoms
Chronic sinusitis is characterized as a sinus infection that lasts longer than 8 weeks without relenting. People with this condition may experience the following symptoms for this length of time: facial congestion or a feeling of fullness in the head, nasal blockage, fever, discolored nasal discharge and pus in the nasal cavity.
Additional symptoms may include: headaches, fatigue, bad breath and toothaches.
You may be diagnosed with chronic sinusitis if you have at least two of these symptoms that last longer than 8 weeks.
There is also such a thing as recurrent sinusitis, which means the individual suffers from several sinus infections within a single year. Patients diagnosed with recurrent sinusitis experience the same symptoms as those with other types of the condition.
Is It A Cold Covid
One of the challenging things about recognizing COVID-19 and other illnesses is that they can share some of the same symptoms. Many articles have been written comparing the symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza, as these two illnesses have perhaps the most in common. But many symptoms of COVID-19 also resemble those of a cold or sinus infection . Learn to tell the difference and how to get the right treatment for your illness.
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